If you don’t have much time to spend in the countryside, or if you haven’t brought the right kit for longer hikes, do at least take Metro line 5 to Lake Sognsvann.

You won’t need any special kit for this roughly 40-minute walk, and you’ll at least get a glimpse into the laid-back lifestyle of the locals, who go to Sognsvann to jog, stroll, walk their dogs or play with their children.

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A hiker’s paradise

The Sognsvann metro terminus is an ideal starting point not only for walks around the lake, but also for longer hikes along the entire northern edge of Oslo.

The endless forests are criss-crossed by dozens of kilometres of walking, cross-country skiing and cycling trails.

Many of the forest paths even have street lighting, which is particularly useful in winter, when it gets dark very early in the afternoon in Oslo.

You can find excellently illustrated, signposted hiking trails on the mapy.cz website, for example.

Accommodation by the lake

If you’re heading to Oslo primarily for hiking, the Sognsvann area is also ideal for accommodation, given its easy access by metro.

Between the metro station and the lake, you’ll find a well-reviewed hotel Olympiatoppen Sportshotel - Scandic Partner ***.

How to get there

Lake Sognsvann is accessible via metro line 5. The terminus is about 250 metres from the lake.

Find a route from anywhere via the ruter.no website.

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